Frequently Asked Questions about Conservatories

Newlite has been designing, installing and refurbishing conservatories for over 25 years. In this section, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about having a new conservatory in your home. We offer free help and advice, so if you’ve any questions about conservatories, orangeries or any other glass roof product, please get in touch and we will be happy to help you.

What is best? A conservatory, an Orangery or an extension?

Your choice of whether to have a conservatory, an orangery or a built extension will largely be governed by budget and what role the new construction will have in the home. The most popular uses for a conservatory extension is a larger living space, dining area or simply an extra useable room.

A conservatory tends to be the cheaper option compared to an orangery. A full extension will be the more expensive option. Conservatories will feature a glass or polycarbonate roof and can be constructed from aluminium, PVCu or timber.

Orangeries differ in having brick corners, a lantern style roof as well as other decorative features.

The fully built extension becomes a more permanent part of your home but offers the most flexibility in design, size and long-term performance. Extensions are the more expensive option but also the most energy efficient. An extension will need to comply with Building Regulations, whereas a conservatory doesn’t usually need to comply.

Whatever you choose, the modern materials and glass used in conservatories, orangeries and glazed extensions, mean a more comfortable all-year-round room. Our advice is to talk to us and let us explain costs, what’s involved and the best solution for your home and your budget.

How long does a conservatory take to build?

The lead time on a new conservatory depends on many different factors such as the material, the colour, the size and the design.

If you choose a PVCu conservatory in a standard white or woodgrain colour with a range of windows and doors, you are likely to get this quicker than a bespoke aluminium model in a special colour.

Typically the lead time for a new conservatory is between 8-12 weeks, but we will always provide you with an installation and build schedule when we discuss your requirements. This lead time allows for the base work and footings to be built, the windows, doors and roof to be manufactured and your glass or solid roof to be made-to-order.

At the end of your installation, we will provide you with your guarantee and help you understand how the windows, doors and other accessories work.

Are conservatories too hot and too cold?

Despite the popularity of conservatories, one thing many homeowners are concerned about are temperature levels and whether the conservatory will be too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.

One of the reasons for the inconsistent temperature levels in a conservatory is the amount of glass or polycarbonate. The sunlight on hot days can make a conservatory unbearably hot in the summer with heat loss making it cold in the winter.

The good news is that modern materials, as well as a combination of materials, can give you the best of both worlds. You can enjoy a useable room all year round as well as having the natural light coming from the conservatory roof.

At Newlite we offer the latest generation glass, solid roof panels as well as a combination of both glass and a solid roof. Your conservatory benefits from exceptional thermal performance when you need it and stays cool in the summer. The glass panels give you all the natural light that floods into a conservatory, combined with a solid roof option giving you insulation and a more comfortable room all year round.

Are conservatories secure?

There is no reason why a properly constructed conservatory, fitted with any type of window or door should not be secure.

Conservatory roof glass is very hard to remove as is the glass in the conservatory walls, with quality windows featuring internal glazing beads and security glazing features built into the window and door design.

At Newlite, we use the same high security windows and doors in our conservatories, orangeries and glazed extensions that we use in our regular windows. It is worth remembering that Building Regulations often require a door between the conservatory and the main house so that adds an extra layer of security as well.

There are several standard features you get with a conservatory from Newlite.

Certified security on our windows and doors such as Secured by Design or PAS 24.

How much does a conservatory cost?

One of the most popular marketing messages around having a new conservatory is the monetary value it adds to your home. While it is true that an extra room and a conservatory can add value, it is worth checking with your local estate agent to ascertain how it could affect the value of your home.

In recent years the trend has been to improve the home rather than move house. The growth in home extensions has created a new market for orangeries, latest generation Skyrooms, fully built extensions with bifold or sliding doors and low-cost conservatories.

It is possible to enjoy a new conservatory in your home even if you are on a lower budget and looking to save money. At Newlite we have helped local homeowners add value, space and light to their homes with our quality range of conservatories.

The cost of a new conservatory will depend upon the materials used, the style of windows and doors, glass specification and, of course, the size of the structure. Every conservatory is bespoke, there is no one size fits all product, so it is hard to provide guide prices. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quotation.

Can I replace my existing conservatory roof?

With so many conservatories fitted in the UK over the last 20 years, changed in material technology and thermal performance, some older conservatories are dated and under-performing compared to their modern counterparts.

If you purchased an early-generation conservatory or have purchased a house with an old style conservatory, the good news is you can substantially improve it and bring it up to current standards.

At Newlite we offer a range of replacement roof glass, solid roof panels and windows and doors designed to bring new life to an old, tired or dated conservatory. Our range of solid conservatory roofs feature the latest aluminium panels with high-specification insulation to instantly make your conservatory better insulated and more comfortable. We can even provide these modern roof panels with a replica tile design.

The advantage of refurbishing your existing conservatory rather than replacing it is lower cost as well as being able to once again enjoy an old conservatory. Contact us today to find out how you can upgrade your existing polycarbonate or glass units with either a solid conservatory roof or new thermally efficient, solar control glass.

How long will a conservatory last?

At Newlite, we have been installing conservatories in the local area for over 25 years. How long a conservatory will last will depend on many factors such as the materials used, the quality of the glass units and of course, the overall quality of the build.

Typically you can expect a conservatory to last for decades and enjoy between 10 to 15 years guarantee on the glass, components, frames and installation. A well looked after conservatory should give you many years of enjoyment and reliable service.

Do you need planning permission for a new conservatory?

In the majority of cases, planning permission for a conservatory is not required. Our advice is to talk to your local authority in case there are any planning constraints in your local area. At Newlite, we can help you with the planning process taking away much of the work from you.

Situations where planning permission is not normally required includes:

The conservatory falls within height limits, typically four metres.

Your conservatory is a 'standard' design with no complex features such as balconies or raised areas.

The new structure is not more than 50% of the existing dwelling.

The new conservatory does not exceed the highest part of the existing roof.

What our customers say:

Outstanding Service

Outstanding service from salesman, installers, right from the start. Just had a new front door fitted and all involved went over and above to complete a professional installation. We have always used Newlite and would recommend them to anyone looking to replace windows, doors, etc.

12th February 2019

Good Clean Job

Thank you so much for the new fitted window Alan – really smart and easy to operate, good clean job.

12th February 2019

Highly recommend Newlite to anyone.

We are both delighted with our new windows and doors which transform the property. Right from the outset Alan gave professional advice and filled us with confidence which others didn’t. He recommended we were sympathetic to the houses original features whilst adding a modern twist. The installers were just as good and clearly take tremendous […]

Workmanship was excellent.

Alan, we are very pleased with our new windows. We thought Lee was a nice guy and have no qualms about his workmanship, which was excellent. By all means, take a picture and thank you for everything. We’ll certainly recommend you if any of our friends need any work done. Thanks again.

14th January 2018

Attention to detail a delight

I am very impressed with the quality of materials used and also with the high standard of work by Scott and Terry. It is fairly rare for me to be able to praise someone’s workmanship but in this case, the craftsmanship and attention to detail has been a delight to see. I am pleased that […]

14th January 2018

Professionalism and customer service is superb!

We would highly recommend Newlite. The quality of workmanship, professionalism and customer service is superb! We are so looking forward to many years in our beautiful new room.

14th January 2018

Clean, tidy, efficient.

A very big thank you to Alan and all the Newlite Team. From sales through to design to application, supply, construction and finishing, the full service was clean, tidy, respectful and efficient. We would recommend Newlite to any prospective customer.

13th January 2018

I’m extremely pleased

Hi Alan, it looks really lovely and I’m extremely pleased. Just need carpets, curtains, etc. Thanks for all your help; the guys who did it all were fantastic – efficient, polite and friendly – so please pass on my thanks to them.

13th January 2018

A pleasure to have working here

Hello Alan, hope you are well and keeping busy. I have just remembered that I haven’t confirmed how pleased we are with our windows and that we were especially impressed with Lee’s efficiency and courtesy during the installation process. He was a pleasure to have working here.

13th January 2018

The advice is simply outstanding

This is the third time we’ve used Newlite over the last couple of years. The advice Alan gives with all his experience and the quality of the fitting is simply outstanding. The door looks amazing, we are so pleased.

13th January 2018

The right level of honest advice I needed.

Hi Alan I just wanted to catch up to let you know how thrilled we are with our French door and window project completed last year in Kent by Newlite windows, door and conservatories. From the outset I found you very professional and able to offer me just the right level of honest advice I […]

10th June 2017

The service was clean, tidy, respectfull and efficient.

A very BIG THANK YOU to Alan and all the Newlite Team. From Sales through to Design, to Application to Supply to construction and finishing. The service was clean, tidy, respectfull and efficient. Would recommend Newlite to any prospective customers. Kind regards, Pete and Denise, East Sussex.

11th April 2017

Newlite Service Impeccable from start to completion.

We are very pleased with our aluminium replacement Critall windows, which fit seamlessly into the 1920s house we are renovating. The New Lite service has been impeccable from start to completion, with Alan giving the best advice for which frames and glass to use. We spent valuable time going through the various options, with expert […]

5th April 2017

Worry free, smooth operation

Hi Alan Just a quick not to say how impressed we are with Lee’s work – he is a real asset to your organisation! The window look great. He took such care and pride in his work. It is so good for us to now be able to easily open and close the new windows […]

27th May 2016

Efficient and Courteous

Hi Alan, Hope you are well and keeping busy. I have just remembered that I haven’t confirmed how pleased we are with our windows, and that we were especially impressed with Lee’s efficiency and courtesy during the installation process. He was a pleasure to have working here.

27th May 2016

Very Professional From The Outset

We contacted Newlite for a quotation for our Fascia/Soffits & Guttering via Google. They were very professional from the outset & kept us informed throughout the process. We couldn’t of asked for better workmen who were so polite & courteous whilst working in difficult weather conditions. The scaffolding went up & came down within a […]

22nd February 2016

A Fantastic Service

We are so pleased with our new bay window complete with GRP roof & base. A Fantastic service from start to finish installed by the best installers we could of dreamed of.

22nd February 2016

We must have done our research very well!

You read so much about double glazing salesmen that you never know which to choose. We must have done our research very well as your team were a testament to the work ethic you advertise.

21st July 2015

We are extremely pleased with the result

No hard sell, no pressure, everyone involved in the process, salesman, estimator, stained glass designer and fitters who called at my home was courteous and considerate. All appointments were made and kept and the windows were fitted ahead of your estimated timed.

21st July 2015

Beautiful job

I would recommend Newlite to anyone. The fitters did a beautiful job and were so clean and tidy.

21st July 2015

Recommend Newlite to anybody

An excellent job all round. I would personally recommend Newlite to anybody.

21st July 2015

Excellent job

Excellent job carried out by Lee who was efficient and personable.

21st July 2015

Installer did a faultless job

Newlite installed all of our white slimline aluminium windows. We wanted to retain the original character of the property and love the elegant slim look of aluminium. Alan was very knowledgable and helped us a great deal with the design and Lee the installer did a faultless job.

21st July 2015

Looks Fantastic

Newlite have installed all of our windows and guttering. We have used them a number of times and find the service and workmanship excellent. We opted to have Oak Pvc windows with clear shield A rated glass which looks fantastic.

21st July 2015

Exceptional Service

An exceptional service from the initial design stage with Alan right through to the completion of the conservatory fitted by Lee. We are so pleased with professional work carried out by Newlite.

21st July 2015

Punctual polite and no mess

I was so impressed with the two installers that came to fit the doors and windows.They were punctual polite and left no mess, Nothing was too much trouble, please pass on my thanks.

21st July 2015

Absolutely delighted

I am absolutely delighted with the work Newlite have carried out. The orangery looks better than I could of even imagined, the product is fantastic & the workmanship is exceptional. I would recommend them to anyone.

21st July 2015

Very Impressed with quality

I am very impressed with the quality of materials used and also with the high standard of work by Scott and Terry. It is fairly rare for me to be able to praise someone’s workmanship but in this case the craftmanship and attention to details has been a delight to see. I am please that […]

21st July 2015

Quality & finish are excellent

Can we thank you personally for your contribution to getting our windows and door right. The initial advice you gave on style and product was very helpful. So too was the way you kept imvolved to completion. Everyone we dealt with as Newlite was efficient, courteous and customer focussed. Our new windows and doors were […]